Road construction
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 163
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From: Boca Raton
Road construction
Often when traveling on the highway I come over road construction where the road is being prepared for repaving so the construction workers use machines to dig up and score the roads before laying new pavement. Sometimes these areas come up on me withlittle warning and I find myself riding on the rough road, and my front tire is "searching" for a groove to follow ... it makes me nervous, and I want to change lanes to get into the newly paved lane.
Problem is, the highway is usually uneven. Getting over to the other lane means I have to ride up and over the uneven road to get on the smooth road again. Hitting the smooth road straight-on where the scored road ends is fine, but if the construction is for any long stretch, I like to get on the smooth road again, but am afraid if I hit the uneven road with the side of my tire I am going to take a nasty spill at 70 MPH.
Any advice? Do i just feel uncomfortable, or is there a real threat?
Problem is, the highway is usually uneven. Getting over to the other lane means I have to ride up and over the uneven road to get on the smooth road again. Hitting the smooth road straight-on where the scored road ends is fine, but if the construction is for any long stretch, I like to get on the smooth road again, but am afraid if I hit the uneven road with the side of my tire I am going to take a nasty spill at 70 MPH.
Any advice? Do i just feel uncomfortable, or is there a real threat?
Banned Camp
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,176
Likes: 3
From: Simpsonville, SC
RE: Road construction
I know exactly what you mean. To tell you the truth, I'm not sure if I normally just ride it out or if I switch lanes. I haven't run into that situation in a long time. As long as you have a decent grip on the bars, you should be fine switching lanes. It all depends on how uneven the lanes are, though. I'd probably just slow down and ride it out at a speed you feel comfortable with.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,031
Likes: 0
From: Greenville, SC
RE: Road construction
buy a set of metzler tires. **Had to come back and edit my post. Wasn't trying to sound like a smarta$$. been reading a lot of post on here about tire issues. All seem to agree Metzlers are a better tire if you have that kind of road condition.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: Mt. Holly, NC
RE: Road construction
Better to continue straight on than try and climb over that uneven part, yep hate to have the bike go down at 70. Just keep a light touch on the bars,slow down a bitand keep her upright usually ends soon.
Yoman
Yoman
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 701
Likes: 1
From: Raymond Mississippi
RE: Road construction
It's kinda like riding on gravel. Slow down some and try to relax tension in arms so you won't make any sudden moves on bars. If you decide to get off, ease over. DOT around here cuts the roads like that alot. You get used to it after awhile.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Boca Raton
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,280
Likes: 2
From: Matthews, NC
RE: Road construction
Ditto on the Metzlers
Ditto on not trying to climb that lip. I tried to one time and it about high sided me off the bike. I forced the front wheel on and the rear wheel struggled to climb the lip. When the rear finally got a hold it jerked quite violently. Thank God I learned to ride bike on mostly dirt bikes. I was able to recover, luckily.
Ditto on not trying to climb that lip. I tried to one time and it about high sided me off the bike. I forced the front wheel on and the rear wheel struggled to climb the lip. When the rear finally got a hold it jerked quite violently. Thank God I learned to ride bike on mostly dirt bikes. I was able to recover, luckily.
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Banned Camp
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,176
Likes: 3
From: Simpsonville, SC
RE: Road construction
I've never had any problems going over the lip with uneven lanes. I just try to do the lane change quickly. Obviously a slower lane change would allow more time for something bad to happen. Also, changing lanes more slowly means it is more gradual. Which means there is a longer period of your front tire being on the high part and your rear tire being on the low part. That could spell trouble. However, if you do the change quickly, you are hitting the lip at a sharper angle and you get your tires on even ground faster. You're hitting the lip harder. If the lip is tall, I wouldnt' chance it, but if it's fairly small, you can use your best judgement and go for it. Maybe I've been lucky so far. If you can stay in the same lane and ride out the grooves in the road, that's probably the best and safest choice. But if you feel you need to change lanes, you should do it quickly, rather than a more gradual and slow lane change.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,280
Likes: 2
From: Matthews, NC
RE: Road construction
In reply to live2ride:
That would be the way to approach it in worse case scenario. In my post I was reffering to a big lip. I underestimated the difference in size of the two. Once I was into the change over, it was too late. If at all avoidable, avoid trying it. If it is a case where you have to get over due to something in your way, live2ride's method is correct.
Ultimately... don't even try it unless you have to. Not worth the risk.
That would be the way to approach it in worse case scenario. In my post I was reffering to a big lip. I underestimated the difference in size of the two. Once I was into the change over, it was too late. If at all avoidable, avoid trying it. If it is a case where you have to get over due to something in your way, live2ride's method is correct.
Ultimately... don't even try it unless you have to. Not worth the risk.
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